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  1. AP Pre Calculus
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What are the differences between vertical asymptotes and holes?

Vertical Asymptotes: Occur when the denominator is zero, and the numerator is non-zero. Function approaches infinity. | Holes: Occur when both numerator and denominator are zero. Represent removable discontinuities.

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What are the differences between vertical asymptotes and holes?

Vertical Asymptotes: Occur when the denominator is zero, and the numerator is non-zero. Function approaches infinity. | Holes: Occur when both numerator and denominator are zero. Represent removable discontinuities.

Define a vertical asymptote.

A vertical line that the graph of a function approaches but never touches, where the function's value goes to infinity (or negative infinity).

What is a rational function?

A function of the form r(x)=p(x)q(x)r(x) = \frac{p(x)}{q(x)}r(x)=q(x)p(x)​, where p(x)p(x)p(x) and q(x)q(x)q(x) are polynomial functions.

Define the multiplicity of a zero.

The number of times its corresponding factor appears in the polynomial.

What is a 'hole' in a rational function?

A point where both the numerator and denominator of a rational function are zero. It is a removable discontinuity.

How do you find vertical asymptotes of a rational function?

  1. Factor the numerator and denominator. 2. Identify zeros of the denominator. 3. Check if those zeros are also zeros of the numerator. 4. If a zero is only in the denominator, there's a vertical asymptote there.

How do you determine the behavior of a function near a vertical asymptote?

  1. Find the vertical asymptote. 2. Evaluate the one-sided limits as xxx approaches the asymptote from the left and right. 3. Determine if the function approaches ∞\infty∞ or −∞-\infty−∞ from each side.

How do you determine if a rational function has holes?

  1. Factor the numerator and denominator. 2. If a factor cancels out from both, there is a hole at the x-value that makes that factor zero.

Given r(x)=x2−1x2−2x+1r(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x^2 - 2x + 1}r(x)=x2−2x+1x2−1​, find the vertical asymptote(s).

  1. Factor: r(x)=(x−1)(x+1)(x−1)(x−1)r(x) = \frac{(x-1)(x+1)}{(x-1)(x-1)}r(x)=(x−1)(x−1)(x−1)(x+1)​. 2. Simplify: r(x)=x+1x−1r(x) = \frac{x+1}{x-1}r(x)=x−1x+1​. 3. Vertical asymptote: x=1x=1x=1.